Friday, March 27, 2020

New Delhi: SpiceJet operated a special charter flight on Friday from Delhi to Coimbatore on a six-seater aircraft with one hazmat suit so that the same can be replicated and produced there. The airline has also offered to operate special flights to fly migrant workers from Delhi and Mumbai to Patna. Other airlines like IndiGo have also offered their aircraft and crew for operating evacuation flights or for ferrying medical equipment.

Air India (AI), the only Indian carrier with wide body aircraft (Vistara has only recently got its first twin aisle), has been operating those planes to China, Japan and Europe to fly back Indians stranded there. AI has also operated flights to Tel Aviv to fly Israeli citizens from here.

SpiceJet hazmat charter was operated on a six-seater KingAir C90 aircraft it has on lease, "after taking all permissions.

Meanwhile, SpiceJet chairman and managing director Ajay Singh said Friday’s special flight was “operated on government request at a very short notice to carry a hazmat suit. This will help local authorities replicate and start local manufacturing.” The airline said it did not charge for this flight. “The aircraft carried only one hazmat suit and no other cargo.